Haitians continue to call for the return of Aristide & an end to the US/UN military occupations. They have resisted the occupation, with UN "peacekeepers" killing many unarmed men, women & children, & 90% of voters boycotted the 2 post-coup fake elections

" The 2004 coup d'etat, in which democratically elected President Aristide was kidnapped by US marines and the Lavalas government was dismantled with support from the US, France and Canada, ushered in a period of severe repression, during which our partners called on us for emergency support."

"What was the role of the HERF initially?

"In the aftermath of the 2004 coup, which was a kind of political earthquake, we realised that material assistance was urgently needed by many of our partners who became political prisoners, or were forced into hiding or exile by the extreme political repression of the coup government supported by the US marines and then the United Nations.

"All Lavalas members who had been employed by the Aristide governmnet lost their jobs and many social programs, including a major adult literacy program, were terminated after the coup. For that reason HERF was created as a fund-raising organisation to provide support to numerous organisations, schools, women's groups and agricultural collectives to help meet the needs of people and families suffering under the coup government and UN occupation.

"In the ensuing years, HERF was additionally called on for support during the major hurricanes that hit Haiti in late 2004 and 2008. The damage caused by those hurricanes was tragic, unnecessary and frustrating, because under the Aristide government from 2000 to February 2004, an extensive disaster preparedness system following the Cuban model had been put into place, but after the coup, that whole system was dismantled."

"under the Aristide government from 2000 to February 2004, an extensive disaster preparedness system following the Cuban model had been put into place, but after the [U.S./Canadian/French-sponsored] coup, that whole system was dismantled" !!!